“Retro Park” in Bulqiza is an innovative project covering approximately 11 hectares, aimed at transforming degraded public spaces from the previous regime period into a unique tourist and social destination.

The park, currently under development, is expected to serve as a new engine of economic growth for Bulqiza, reflecting a new vision for its future through the promotion of the natural and tourism potential offered by the surrounding area.

Within this framework, “Retro Park” will offer a range of integrated functions, including spaces for a market and artisan workshops, a children’s playground, an information point, a hospitality centre, hotel facilities, and parking areas for visitors. Located along the Arbër Road, the project is intended to serve as a stopover point and attraction for the increasing flow of tourists դեպի Dibra.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is in Bulqiza today, where he began his visit by inspecting the progress of works at the “Retro Park” construction site.

The Director of the Albanian Development Fund, Dritan Agolli, presented the main components of the project, emphasising that the complex includes a hospitality centre with an info point and bar-restaurant services, a dedicated camper area with all necessary facilities, as well as a tourist market where local products will be produced and sold on-site by residents themselves. He further explained that the project also foresees the construction of a hotel with approximately 22 rooms in retro style, along with the creation of integrated spaces for the local community.

“We are here at the Retro Park of Bulqiza, one of the innovative projects launched some time ago, which is a complex incorporating several functions. The building we are currently in is the ‘Hospitality Centre,’ which will include the info point, bar-restaurant services, and services for the camper area. Behind us is a camper zone equipped with showers and toilets, together with a relaxation area in front. The next building is the tourist market, which will not only serve daily products but will also include mini-workshops functioning both as production spaces and shops, where residents will make pasta, jam, and their artisan products and sell them on-site, transforming it into not just a daily market but a tourist market.

The third building will be a retro-style hotel with around 22 rooms, and from the very beginning, as you requested, the key aspect is how this will be managed as a community project, meaning a joint initiative between the Albanian Development Fund, the municipality, and the local community, particularly women, to create a shared structure that will manage it and turn all of this into added value for the residents,” explained Agolli.

Prime Minister Rama emphasised the involvement of local women in managing the project, valuing their contribution in this regard.

“The women of Dibra are worth their weight in gold, and especially here, all those women who create wonders with their hands should own this work. Then the municipality and the Albanian Development Fund should support them,” said the Prime Minister.

The project also foresees the integration of surrounding homes and spaces into hospitality functions, such as guesthouses and traditional restaurants, creating an authentic experience for visitors while generating direct income for the local community.

“Retro Park” aims to become a reference point for tourism development in the area, encouraging visitor interest and promoting the natural and cultural potential of Bulqiza and the entire Dibra region.